Blackout: Photos capture a week of destitution in Venezuela

People collect water from a broken pipe, flowing into a sewage canal at the Guaire river in Caracas on March 11, 2019, as a massive power outage continues affecting some areas of the country. JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images

The week-long power outages that struck Venezuela left citizens desperate for basic needs. Through the days, people rushed to mountainsides to collect water from broken pipes. Others stood impatiently in line to refill their propane tanks or scoured empty grocery stores for scraps of food.

The blackout lasted from Thursday, March 7 to Thursday, March 14.

This was the situation in photos:

Monday

Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido asked lawmakers on Monday to declare a “state of alarm” over the country’s devastating blackout in order to facilitate the delivery of international aid — meant as a chance to score points in his power struggle with President Nicolas Maduro.JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images

Tuesday

Juan Guaido, president of the National Assembly who swore himself in as the leader of Venezuela, stands on a vehicle during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 12.Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg

Opponents to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro block a street as they demonstrate in Caracas on March 12.RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images

People fill containers with water from a broken pipe in Caracas.Loureiro Fernandez/Bloomberg

Wednesday

A man fills containers with water flowing down from the Wuaraira Repano mountain, also called “El Avila”, in Caracas on March 13.FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images

National Police patrol Maracaibo, in the border state of Zulia on March 13.JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images

General view inside a wholesale supermarket looted during the massive blackout that has paralyzed Venezuela, in Maracaibo, in the border state of Zulia on March 13.JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images

Thursday

Locals line up to replace empty propane gas drums in Las Minas de Baruta neighborhood, Caracas, on March 14.RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images

Relatives carry the remains of Florentino Torrado across the Tachira River into Colombia for burial, on Wednesday, March 13. According to his sister Adelaide, Florentino was a Colombian who lived in Venezuela and was killed by robbers in San Cristobal, Venezuela on March 10.Schneyder Mendoza/

Passengers ride on a bus with messages that read in Spanish “No to war,” and “We want peace,” in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 14.Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo

National Assembly President Juan Guaido, top left, greets supporters as he arrives to meet with residents in the Hatillo municipality of Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 14.Fernando Llano/AP Photo